Wednesday, February 25, 2009

A Manhattan judge shot down rapper Lil’ Wayne’s bid to toss a gun case lodged against him - and instead set a trial date. Defense lawyer Stacey Richman tried to quash the July 2007 arrest, claiming a cop lied about smelling marijuana wafting out of the Grammy winner’s tour bus and used it as an excuse to board. “The motion is denied,” Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon told the 26-year-old star, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, in court on Tuesday. The hugely popular “Lollipop” singer sat in the courtroom in a black leather jacket, blue jeans and black-rimmed glasses as giddy fans whispered about asking for his autograph. The cop testified at a hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court last fall that after she smelled pot coming from the bus on the upper West Side, she boarded and found a loaded, 9-mm. handgun in the singer’s Louis Vuitton bag. Richman argued the cop was several blocks away, helping another officer arrest rapper Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, also on gun charges. The hip-hop artists were busted after a Lil’ Wayne & Friends concert at Broadway’s Beacon Theater. Authorities have said the two busts were an hour apart. The judge set a trial date of April 20, but not before all sides skirmished over conflicts with the star’s upcoming tour schedule. “I’m not psychic, nor is Mr. Carter,” Richman said of Carter’s professional commitments beyond April 12, when his tour ends. Richman asked for time “to consult with the booker.” The judge refused. “I’m not going to take a backseat here,” Solomon said before setting a trial date. Carter faces felony weapons charges and up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

These charges should surely be dropped to a lesser charge where he might take a plea deal. CAN YOU SAY PROBATION!!!

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